Commercial truck body



June 10, 1952 J, H. TORSETH COMMERCIAL TRUCK BODY Filed April 26, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l all K m 2. e 5 5 f W au I M5 -Z ab f .0 /l H. a 4 ld m, f 4 y 7 4 a a z mv -C 3 5 W m 6 n 6 w w *www @www ,4 7, m M f Z 9 /a 7 5 4 3 Z Z Z M W M June 10, 1952 A J, H, TORSETH 2,600,140

COMMERCIAL TRUCK BODY Filed April 26. 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 EN 54' J5 ,36

Patented "J une 10, 1952 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE John H. Torseth, Fargo, N.v Dak.

Application April 26, 1948, Serial No. 23,325

This invention relates to vehicle bodies.

An object of this invention is to provide a truck body wherein the sides, ends and top are formed of prefabricated panelsconnected together by mean-s of detachable coupling means so that a damaged panel can be quickly removed for repair or replacement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a truck body wherein the detachable coupling means for the panels forms the corners between adjacent panels.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved panel construction which is formed of rigid beams or studs` with inner facing formed of corrugated aluminum sheet or plywood and outer facings of aluminum-sheets or body steel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a truck body construction formed of connected together panels wherein the lower ends of the side panels are formed with a pair of lengthwise extending flanges for attachment to the floor beams.

A vfurther object of this invention is to provide in a truck body construction of this kindan improved sealing means between lthe door and the door frame so as to form a weather-tight seal when the door is closed.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts. as will be more specically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings: f

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a vehicle body constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section of the upperportion of the body.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the upper channel frame members for the side and end panels.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral Il) designates generally a vertical side panel and 1 Claim. (Cl. 296-28) the numeral Il; designates generally a. top 0r roof panel. The .side and top panels are connected together by means of a. GOImectoigenerally designated as; I2. The side` panel Ill is formed of a. plurality of I or other shaped upright members I3, which may take the form of I-beams which at their. lower' ends. eligigev a horizontally disposed U-shaped channel member generally designated as I4. The lower Channel member I4 is formed with an Outer upright ieg or side I5 and an inner upright. les er vSide I6 which is substantially of greater height than the outer leg I5. TheY lower ends of the studs or upright members I3. extend between the upright sides I5 and I6 of theA lower channel member I4 being either welded or otherwise irmly secured therein. The upright/S or Studs I3 at `.their upper ends engage in an inverted Ueshaped or channel member l1 which is formed of dependingparallel sides I8 and I9 and ay connecting Wall 20 which is. formed with a dQWllWaldlY offset V.shape.d rib I 'forming a V-shaped seat 22.

y The uprigh-ts or studs I 3 are also connected together between the upper and lower ends thereof by a horizontally extending channel member 23 which has the parallel sides 24 thereof extended into, and secured as by welding or the like, slots 25 which are formed in the outersidesA of the uprights I3. The panel IIJ has secured to the outer side thereof an outer facing sheet 26 which may be secured as by rivets. or .the like to the lower and upper channel members I4 and I1 respectively, and may alsoY be secured tothe intermediate horizontal channel member 23. A horizontally disposed covering strip 21 is adapted to cover the meeting edges of the two sheets '28 and 29 which vform the outer facing 26. A lower horizontally disposed rub rail or flange 30 is secured to the lower portion of the lower sheet member 29 and an upper horizontally extending drip moulding 31| is secured to the upper portion ofthe sheet 28. This drip moulding is riveted through facing sheet 26 rand (I8, Fig. 9) this will h'old facing sheet securely to channel member I An inner facing or lining 32 is secured at its lower end to the upright side I6 of the lower channel member I4 and is secured at its upper portion to the inner side I9 of the upper channel member I'I. The upper or top panel II is formed of a plurality of transversely extending parallel tubular members 33 which are substantially square in transverse section and the opposite ends of the tubular members 33 are secured within the opposite parallel sides of lengthwise extending U-shaped members 34 which are similar in every detail to the channel members I1. The channel members 34 are formed with V-shaped lengthwise extending seats 35, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described.

The top member II has secured to the upper side thereof sheet 36 forming the roof and the lower side of the top member Il has secured thereto a corrugated sheet 31. The connecting member I2 which is connected between the opposite sides and ends and the top of the body is formed of an elongated transversely arcuate sheet 38 which is formed with inwardly bent lengthwise edge portions 39 having lengthwise extending V-shaped ribs 40. The ribs 40 are adapted to engage on the seats 22 and to :be seg cured thereto by means of bolts 4I which are extended through washers or plates 43. The inner edges of the inturned lengthwise portions 39 are bent upwardly to form a vertical flange 44 and the flange 44 of the lower edgeof the connecting member I2 is connected to the flange 45 extending from the upper edge of the connecting member I2 by means of a right-angular connecting member 4B. The connecting member 46 is formed with openings 41 and 48 in the opposite legs thereof so that a tool may be extended through the openings 41 and 48 to engage the .bolts 4I. As shown in Figure 4the upper edge of the outer facing sheet 28 is bent inwardly as indicated at 49 so that when the connecting member I2 is fixed between the top .and the sides and ends the upper edges of the outer facing 28 will be tightly clamped to the upper channel member I1. f

An L-shaped connecting member 50 is secured by fastening means I and 52 to the top panel II and the side panel I0 and an interposed L- shaped member 53 is interposed between the L- shaped member 50 and the channel members I1 and 34. The lengthwise outer edges of the L- shaped member 50 are bent at right angles as indicated at 54 and 55. rihe L-shaped member 46 is adapted to be secured to the flanges 44 and 45 by a fastening means 55 so that the `connecting member I2 will be formed as a hollow :elongated body which can be. secured as a unit :to the side and end walls and the top wall or panel of the truck body. Y

rIhe lower channel member I4 has extending from the inner side I6 thereof upper and lower horizontal anges 56 and 51 and transversely extending iloor beams 58 are secured between the flanges 56 and 51, the latter being substantially coplanar with the bight of U-shaped member I4 by fastening devices 59 and 60, respectively. The floor beams or supporting members 58 are formed Yof a vertical web 6I having a right-angular upper flange 62 and a right-angular lower flange 63 with a vertical short flange 64 extending from the free edge of the lower flange 63.

In the constructiony or assembly of a truck body as hereinbefore described, the oor beams 58 are secured in the channels formed between 65 the flanges 56 and 51 carried .by the side panel members I0. The. arcuate connecting member I2 may be initially secured to the upper edges of the side panels I0 whereupon the top panel I I may be secured to the inner edges of the connecting members I2. At the time the panels are being secured together at their upper portions, the L-shaped member 50 is removed so that the securing bolts 4I may be tightened along the lengthwise edges of the connecting member I4. After the side and end panels and the top panels are secured together thereby forming a completed body, the covering strips 50 may be secured between the upper portions of the side and top panels.

With a body as hereinbefore described, in the event any panel becomes damaged, the damaged panel can be readily replaced by inserting a new panel. The new panel can be inserted by removing the inner corner strips 50 and loosening the bolts 4I which are connected between the connecting member I2 and the injured panel. Furthermore, by providing the lengthwise ribs between the side, end and'top panels and the meeting ribs on the connecting member I2, the connecting member will be l'mly held against shifting either horizontally or vertically.

I claim:

A vehicle body comprising opposite side panels, opposite end panels, a top panel, connecting means between the upper edges of said side and end panels and said top panel, transverse oor beams, and means at the lower portions of said side panels supported by said floor beams, each side panel including inner and outer walls. vertical studs between said inner and outer walls, horizontal flange extending from the inner side substantially longer, than the outer side, said vertical beams at their lower ends seating in said lower member and being xed between, the upright sides of said U-shaped member, a lower horizontal ange extending from the inner side of said U-shaped member substantially coplanar with the bight of the latter, a second horizontal flange carried by the inner side of said U-member spaced upwardly from said lower flange, and means securing the ends of said floor beams between said flanges.

JOHN H. TORSETH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number y OTHER REFERENCES .Knock-Down All-Aluminum Bodies Developed by Reynolds in Automotive and Aviation Industries, October l, 1946pages 44 and 77. 

